§ Tom BrakeTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what(a) discussions his Department has had or plans to have and (b) representations have been received by his Department with regards the potential effect of changes in landing charges at airports in the United Kingdom upon passenger numbers at each airport; [81414]
(2) what research has been conducted by his Department, or is planned, on the potential effect of changes in landing charges at airports in the United Kingdom upon passenger numbers at each airport. [81403]
§ Mr. JamiesonThe impact of a 50 per cent. increase in airport landing charges was considered as a sensitivity test in the Department's most recently published air traffic forecasts (Air Traffic Forecasts for the United Kingdom 2000, published in May 2000). This showed that such an increase would have the effect of reducing forecast air passengers at UK airports by 7.5 per cent. in 2020, from 401 to 371 million.